Of all the relationships a person has in their life, the one between a child and parent is probably one of, if not the most significant. As parents or caregivers are the first people a child connects with, that relationship sets the bar for every other bond they will make in life.

Here are eight ways to instill independence, a sense of self, and autonomy in your child by strengthening your relationship with them.

1. Say You Love Them Frequently

As parents, we often assume our child knows we love them, which might as well be. But never undermine the power of saying “I love you” daily.

When you tell them you love them regularly, regardless of their behavior, it assures the kid that your love is unconditional, ultimately fostering a deeper child-parent bond.

2. Take Time Out For Parent-Child Bonding Activities

Make the time from your schedule for some one-on-one interaction with your kid. It can be tough if you have multiple children, but not unattainable. Spending individual time with your kids makes them feel valued.

Additionally, parent-child rituals do not have to be elaborate. Here is a list of simple activities you can plan with kid/s to strengthen your bond.

Sharing Family Stories

You can have a “Family Story” session daily, where you share stories about you or your ancestors. For example, tell them how mommy and daddy met. You can make it more interactive by taking out your wedding photo book. Another example is teaching them about their family transition with a family ancestry book.

Using visual reinforcements helps pique a child's interest and helps them relate to the story more.

Pick Out Pictures Of The Month

Start a fun family tradition of picking out pictures of your child’s favorite moments from the month. Then, let them make the picks and put them together as a Year-In-Review photo book to cherish forever.

This will help your kid look forward to an annual activity and allow you to see what matters to them the most through their eclectic monthly moment picks.

Start an Arts and Crafts Project

If your child is an artist, start an arts and crafts project with them. Then, display their beautiful creations in the form of a photo book or use our Acrylic Blocks to put them on your mantelpiece.

These unique opportunities make the child feel celebrated and closer to the parent.

3. Cook And Have Meals Together

If your child enjoys cooking, make it a weekend activity to cook meals together. You can even harness their talent by jotting down their favorite recipes in the form of a cookbook.

To appreciate each other’s company and the time taken to prepare the food, make having meals a gadget-free zone.

Share stories from your day and ask your children about theirs during mealtime. When taken as an opportunity to bond with each other, meals can become a memorable time for the whole family. Moreover, research shows that children and teens who eat meals with their families make healthier food choices and have fewer behavioral issues.

4. Be An Involved Parent

Being an involved parent is challenging work. It often means sacrificing your wants to give your child what they desire. However, it is integral to creating a solid relationship with your kid.

Involved parents are not only aware of their child’s academics but also take an interest in their hobbies and remember details about people important to them, like their friends. You can stay connected with your child and what’s going on in their lives in a few ways:

staying in touch with their teachers
helping them host a friend’s dinner
volunteering at their school

Remember: being involved does not mean taking control. Instead, learn to be there for your child when they require support while allowing them the freedom to make their own decisions and trusting them.

5. Apologize When You Make A Mistake

Ask your child what you can do to make up for upsetting or hurting their feelings.

Accept responsibility and be clear about why you are apologizing. Giving your child something they like and doing something they enjoy makes them feel seen. Making their favorite meal or planning a movie marathon shows you value your relationship.

6. Set Boundaries and Stick To Them

Communication is vital for any strong relationship; one with your child is no exception.

Setting boundaries and explaining expectations is essential. First, make rules, explain your reasoning, and stick to them, no matter what. Then, politely but firmly communicate why you are taking specific disciplinary actions.

While it may be challenging to follow your set rules all the time, doing so establishes you as a trustworthy and fair figure - traits your children take on as they grow older. Design a canvas print with the house rules as a helpful reminder. Make the kids a part of the designing process and allow them to pick a spot to display the final print.

7. Goof Around With Your Kids

Don't be afraid to open up to your children. Do silly dances, make funny faces, and goof around. But, while your little ones may shower you with giggles, trust us when we say this, even older children enjoy seeing this side of their parents. So just embarrass them in public.

Letting your guard down makes your child feel like they can approach you for anything - a key to building a sustainable bond with them.

8. Evolve How You Deal With Kids As They Grow

Remember that as children grow, parents also have to grow with them. This means you must constantly change your parenting style to communicate better with a growing child. For example, you can trust your teens with more responsibility, like extending the curfew. An older child will also appreciate it when you truly value their opinion and consider it when making decisions.

Treat children with the same respect you expect and make communication easy for them at all stages in life to foster a healthy bond with you.